Chapter 6: A Gold Bar and a New Face
It didn't take long to reach the small town—barely an hour's journey.
Before stepping off the cart, Yan Tangtang retrieved a single gold bar from her storage and tucked it securely into her sleeve. She knew better than to hand a gold bar to the carter for a fare that likely only cost a few copper coins; the man would never be able to provide the change, and the sheer display of wealth would be reckless.
Though she had devoured countless historical novels and understood the general logic of this world, she still needed to confirm the local economy. She wondered exactly how many copper coins a single gold bar was worth.
Catching the carter's eye, Yan Tangtang spoke up, her voice small and tentative. "Um... sir? Could I pay you in just a little while? Is that okay?"
She had to be mindful of her speech; she was inhabiting the body of a child, and her tone needed to reflect that innocence to avoid suspicion.
The carter nodded kindly. He informed her that he would be staying in town until noon and advised her to return before then if she intended to hitch a ride back to the village. Yan Tangtang nodded in return, though she knew in her heart that she would never be setting foot in that village again.
Her short legs carried her on a scouting mission through the town. Though it held the title of a "town," it was far from bustling. She scanned the crowd but couldn't spot a single cultivator—not even someone at the first stage of Qi Condensation. It seemed this was a place for ordinary mortals, tucked away in a remote corner of the world.
After two laps around the perimeter, beads of sweat began to form on her forehead. It was time for her first move: shedding the image of a penniless country waif.
Logic dictated that a child in ragged village clothes brandishing a gold bar would be a magnet for trouble. She would be accused of theft at best and robbed at worst. To navigate the town effectively, she needed new clothes, and for that, she needed a bit of theatre.
She made a beeline for the largest garment shop in town. Bursting through the doors, she leaned against a pillar, panting heavily as if she had just escaped a high-stakes pursuit. She began to mutter to herself, loud enough for the staff to overhear.
"Good grief! I can never shake those servants off. I just wanted to sneak out of the manor for some fun... I had to dress like this just to lose them. I'm exhausted! Whew..."
Yan Tangtang had no intention of traveling as a girl. She had studied her reflection in the water—this body was thin, dark-skinned, and short. At seven years old, her features were androgynous enough that without the context of her village rags, she could easily pass for a boy. Traveling as a young master would bypass many of the unique dangers a young girl might face alone on the road.
The shopkeeper had initially rushed forward to shoo away what looked like a beggar child. However, hearing the "young master's" grumbles, her expression shifted instantly.
Ah... this must be a pampered young master from a great manor, out on a rebellious escapade in disguise.
The child's complexion wasn't exactly fair, but in this world, there were many "little ancestors" from powerful families that one simply couldn't afford to offend. Her shop might be the largest in town, but it wasn't the most powerful. Influential families were as common as mushrooms after rain, and many held more sway than she did. If this child truly was a young master, she had to be careful. Of course, the rule of business remained: no money, no clothes. But testing the waters was easy enough; offending a hidden elite was not a risk she was willing to take.
The shopkeeper's face broke into a sugary smile.
"Little guest, are you looking for something to wear?"
Yan Tangtang, still playing the part of the winded fugitive, looked up at the sound. She made sure to inject a hint of haughty arrogance into her gaze.
"Yes! Shopkeeper, show me clothes befitting a young master like myself!"
Though her voice still held the high-pitched chirp of a child with a slight feminine undertone, she did her best to project a boyish rasp.
The shopkeeper didn't particularly like arrogant brats, but her professional mask stayed firmly in place. She signaled her assistants to bring out ready-made sets ranging from one to ten silver coins—sizes that would fit the "little ancestor" standing before her.
Yan Tangtang wanted to change her image, but she didn't want to look like a walking target for bandits. She didn't need "Wealth" tattooed on her forehead. She settled on quality over flashiness—garments that were well-made but understated.
The shopkeeper's first offerings were abysmal—either poor fabric or gaudy silks that shone as if they'd been dipped in oil. Yan Tangtang scowled, feigning a flash of temper. She reached into her sleeve, pulled out the gold bar, and slammed her hand down (though she kept the gold mostly hidden in her palm).
"This young master has the means! Why are you showing me this trash?!"
The shopkeeper's face twitched at her wares being called "trash," but at the sight of the gold, her attitude performed a somersault.
"Aiya! Young master, please don't be angry! Quickly, everyone! Bring out the finest quality garments for the young master! Don't keep him waiting!"
Yan Tangtang inwardly wrinkled her nose. The shopkeeper reminded her of those stereotypical retail workers in the short videos she'd watched in her past life—judging people by their covers, fawning at the sight of gold, and switching faces in a heartbeat.
She didn't have to wait long before a selection of high-quality ready-made robes was laid out. She ignored the shimmering silks and chose three sets of fine cotton: a light blue, a soft purple, and a practical black. They came with inner robes and socks, which was perfect. The cotton was high-grade—soft, breathable, and cool to the touch.
Yan Tangtang retreated to the changing room to don the black robes. She carefully folded her original village clothes into a neat bundle. Before entering the shop, she had ducked into a quiet alleyway to tuck her bags into her Storage Pouch, so she had entered the shop empty-handed. However, she knew that leaving the shop with a new bundle without a visible bag would reveal her possession of a storage artifact. While these pouches didn't require spiritual energy and could be used by mortals, they were deathly expensive. Only the truly wealthy among the common folk carried them.
She had no desire to flaunt her pouch. If she hadn't been playing the "runaway young master" script, she wouldn't have risked using it even in a deserted alley. She knew she was being overly cautious, but in her situation, caution was the only thing keeping her alive.
Once dressed in the boy's robes, the transformation was complete. She looked exactly like a young boy. Using a matching hair tie that came with the set, she gathered her hair and bound it up. Now, she likely resembled a slightly scruffy, plain-looking young master.
When she emerged, the shopkeeper and the assistants let out a collective sigh of relief. It was true what they said: fine clothes make the man. In her village rags, she had looked like a dull, impoverished girl; in quality robes, she looked every bit the part of a high-born son.
Yan Tangtang had the other two sets wrapped up. The bill came to three hundred and sixty-six copper coins. She knew the shopkeeper was likely overcharging a "clueless child," but she didn't feel like haggling. The shopkeeper made a show of being generous, knocking off one coin and repeatedly mentioning how she was only charging three hundred and sixty-five.
As she took her change and left, Yan Tangtang finally grasped the currency exchange: one thousand copper coins equaled one silver coin, and one hundred silver coins equaled one gold leaf. Ten gold leaves equaled one gold bar. Paying for a few hundred copper coins with a gold bar had sent the shopkeeper scurrying to find enough change.
Yan Tangtang thought about the "money notes" tucked in her bag. She wasn't sure if they would be valid elsewhere once she left this town. Then, she remembered the single copper coin she owed the carter. Based on the silver change in her bundle—thirty-five silver coins—she still had plenty of liquid cash.
She quickly headed toward an inn to consolidate her belongings. There weren't many inns in this small town, so she chose the cleanest-looking one and walked straight to the counter.
"Shopkeeper, I need a double room. My parents will be arriving later."
The innkeeper heard the voice but saw no one. He stopped clicking his abacus and peered over the edge of the high counter, finally spotting the small young master.
Hmph, look at the kids these days. Always wanting to do everything themselves, checking into rooms before their parents even arrive.
With a mental shrug, the innkeeper handed over a room key. A waiter led Yan Tangtang to her room and asked if she required any food. She politely declined and closed the door.